Research Progress and Prospects of Molecular Breeding in Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon)

Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.) is a warm-season grass species of significant ecological and economic importance. It is widely utilized in turf management and forage production due to its resilience to drought, salt, and other environmental stresses. Recent advancements in molecular breeding, particularly through genomics technology and gene editing, have enabled the efficient identification of key genes associated with stress tolerance and turf quality. The use of techniques such as overexpression and CRISPR/Cas has enhanced resistance to drought, salt, cold, and heat, while the application of molecular markers has accelerated the development of superior varieties. The integration of multi-omics, such as genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics, provides deeper insights into the molecular mechanisms of bermudagrass, thereby improving breeding efficiency and precision. Additionally, artificial intelligence is emerging as a powerful tool for analyzing genomic data, predicting optimal trait combinations, and accelerating breeding processes. These technologies, when combined with traditional breeding methods, hold great potential for optimizing bermudagrass varieties for both turf and forage use. Future research will focus on further integrating these tools to address the challenges of breeding posed by climate change to breeding climate-resilient turf and forage crops.